Strengthened radiator

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a strengthened radiator comprising a collector and a water tank, the water tank being provided with a wall ( 40 ) and a base ( 50 ), a plurality of plates ( 10 ) located inside the water tank, wherein each plate ( 10 ) comprises a plurality of extensions ( 20, 20′, 20″, 20 ′″) having a predetermined format; the base ( 50 ) of the wall ( 40 ) of the water tank being provided with a plurality of slots ( 30 ) having a format corresponding to that of the plurality of extensions ( 20, 20′, 20″, 20 ′″), wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions engages each slot of the corresponding plurality of slots.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a radiator and, more particularly, to a radiator that is strengthened in order to prevent cracks in the collector thereof and failure of the crimping of the teeth of the collector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, radiators used in engine cooling systems experience high stresses in the water tanks and in the collector thereof when in a pressure cycle test. This occurs owing to the large dimensions of such water tanks, given the internal oil coolers thereof, causing undesirable cracks in the collector and failure of the crimping of the teeth of the collector.

In order to solve such problems, ribs inside the water tank and/or a plurality of ribs outside said tank are usually added. Such solutions prevent the movement of the wall of the water tank during the pressure cycle test, which causes cracks in the collector and failure of the crimping of the teeth of the collector.

When such a radiator has an internal oil cooler, the solution described above of adding a plurality of internal ribs is not possible owing to the absence of space for mounting the oil cooler internally.

In certain special cases, the plurality of internal ribs is insufficient owing to the design of the water tank and the great height of the tank.

Furthermore, another solution that exists in the prior art consists in adding an additionally toothed profile in order to increase the mechanical strength of the collector when in a pressure cycle test. In this case, as the collector does not have teeth the additionally toothed profile is added in an attempt to increase strength, thereby preventing cracks.

However, such solutions are not efficient in terms of preventing cracks in the collector of the radiator or preventing the failure of the crimping of the teeth of the collector (or of the teeth of the profile when the collector does not have teeth).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strengthened radiator.

One object of the present invention is to provide a strengthened radiator that prevents cracks occurring in the collector of the radiator, which thus reduces its service life.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a strengthened radiator in which movement of the wall of the water tank during the pressure cycle test is minimized, preventing the failure of the crimping of the teeth of the collector.

The objects of the present invention are achieved with the provision of a radiator comprising a collector and a water tank, the water tank being provided with a wall and a base, the radiator additionally comprising a plurality of plates located inside the water tank, wherein each plate comprises a plurality of extensions having a predetermined format; the base of the wall of the water tank being provided with a plurality of slots having a format corresponding to that of the plurality of extensions, wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions engages each slot of the corresponding plurality of slots.

The objects of the present invention are additionally achieved with the provision of a radiator comprising a collector and a water tank, the water tank being provided with a wall and a base, the radiator additionally comprising a holder with a format conforming to the format of the water tank, wherein the holder has a top wall and lateral walls; the lateral walls having a plurality of ribs and the junction between the top wall and the lateral walls having a plurality of ribs; the lateral walls additionally having a plurality of slots for receiving teeth of the collector for crimping.

The objects of the present invention are further achieved with the provision of a radiator comprising a collector and a water tank, the water tank being provided with a wall and a base, the radiator additionally comprising a plurality of internal projections provided in the channel of the collector; a plurality of slots, with a format corresponding to the format of the plurality of internal projections, provided in the base of the water tank; wherein the teeth of the collector conform to the profile of the base of the water tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood on the basis of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a first embodiment of strengthening for a radiator according to the present invention.

FIG. 1b is a perspective view of a first embodiment of strengthening for a radiator according to the present invention.

FIG. 1c is a sectional view of a first embodiment of strengthening for a radiator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of strengthening for a radiator according to the present invention.

FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a third embodiment of strengthening for a radiator according to the present invention.

FIG. 3b is a perspective view of a third embodiment of strengthening for a radiator according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1a-1c illustrate a first embodiment of strengthening for use in a radiator.

As may be seen from FIG. 1a , in a first embodiment, a plurality of strengthening plates 10 are inserted inside the water tank of the radiator. Each plate 10 has a plurality of extensions 20, 20′, 20″, 20′″ with a specific format. Said plurality of extensions engages with a plurality of corresponding slots 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1b , located inside the base 50 of the wall 40 of the water tank, with a format complementing that of the extensions. This complementary format allows engagement between the elements, as shown in FIG. 1c , thereby preventing the movement of the wall 40 of the water tank and also deformations during the pressure cycle test. Furthermore, such engagement prevents the deformation of the collector and also the occurrence of cracks therein. By way of example, the plate 10 has extensions 20, 20′, 20″, 20′″ of T format that engage in slots 30 having an aperture of T format which are located in the base of the wall of the water tank.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, where the water tank receives a holder 100 with a format that conforms to the format of the water tank. The holder 100 has a top wall 110 connected to two lateral walls 120. The holder 100 comprises a plurality of ribs 130, 140 arranged both on the lateral walls 120 and at the junction between the top wall 110 and the lateral walls 120 of the support 100. The lower part of the lateral walls 120 has slots 150 for receiving the teeth of the collector (not illustrated) at the time of crimping.

Similarly, the holder 100 prevents the movement of the wall of the water tank and also deformations during the pressure cycle test, deformation of the collector and the occurrence of cracks therein.

FIGS. 3a-3b illustrate a third embodiment of the strengthened radiator. In this embodiment, the channel 200 of the collector is provided with a plurality of internal projections 210. The base 250 of the water tank is modified in order to have a profile and a plurality of slots 220 with a format corresponding to the format of the plurality of internal projections 210 of the channel of the collector.

Thus, engagement between the plurality of internal projections of the channel of the collector and the plurality of slots 220 of the base of the water tank prevent the movement of the wall 240 of the water tank and also deformations during the pressure cycle test. Furthermore, such engagement prevents the deformation of the collector and also the occurrence of cracks therein. Such engagement is strengthened by the configuration between the teeth 230 of the collector and the base 250 of the water tank.

It should be noted that variations, modifications and alterations to the invention described here are possible to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and from the scope of the present invention or equivalents thereof encompassed by the appended claims and equivalents thereto. 

1. A radiator comprising: a collector; a water tank, the water tank being provided with a wall and a base of the wall; and a plurality of plates located inside the water tank, wherein each plate comprises a plurality of extensions having a predetermined format, the base of the wall of the water tank being provided with a plurality of slots having a format corresponding to that of the plurality of extensions, wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions engages each slot of the corresponding plurality of slots.
 2. A radiator comprising: a collector; a water tank, the water tank being provided with a wall and a base; and, a holder with a format conforming to the format of the water tank, wherein the holder has a top wall and lateral walls, the lateral walls having a first plurality of ribs and a junction between the top wall and the lateral walls having a second plurality of ribs; the lateral walls additionally having a plurality of slots for receiving teeth of the collector for crimping.
 3. A radiator comprising: a collector; a water tank, the water tank being provided with a wall and a base; a plurality of internal projections provided in the channel of the collector; and a plurality of slots, with a format corresponding to the format of the plurality of internal projections, provided in the base of the water tank, wherein teeth of the collector conform to a profile of the base of the water tank. 